PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 20, 2013) - Leaders of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario will join members in standing up for fairness for LGBTQ workers at Peterborough Pride tomorrow, Saturday, September 21.

"As a union, we have a 50-year history of standing up for equality and fairness," says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn, a developmental services worker who in 2009 was elected the first openly gay president of a major union in Canada. "Bargaining and campaigning for LGBTQ rights are important parts of the work we do for our members and our communities, all across Ontario. Let there be no doubt - LGBTQ issues are union issues."

CUPE pioneered the use of collective bargaining to advance equality and anti-harassment policies in the workplace. Members voted at a 1985 convention that their union's policy would be to bargain such language into contracts.

In Ontario, CUPE also brought forward the Rosenberg case, which led the federal government to
re-write the Income Tax Act to recognize same-sex spouses. And CUPE Ontario supported member Martine Stonehouse in her landmark human rights case, which led to a re-listing of gender reassignment surgery with OHIP.

"I'm very proud to march with our members in Peterborough," says Candace Rennick, a Lakefield resident who worked in long-term care before becoming the youngest secretary-treasurer of CUPE Ontario in 2010. "Pride is important to CUPE Ontario because our members are part of the LGBTQ communities, and because many of our members provide important services and supports to the communities.

CUPE is Ontario's community union, with members providing quality public services we all rely on, in every part of the province, every day. CUPE Ontario members are proud to work in social services, health care, municipalities, school boards, universities and airlines.

WHO: CUPE Ontario members including President Fred Hahn and Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick

WHAT: Peterborough Pride Parade

WHEN: Saturday, September 21, parade starts at 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Parade begins at City Hall (500 George Street N) and ends in Del Crary Park

Contact Information

For more information or to arrange interviews,please contact: Craig SaundersCUPE Communications416-576-7316csaunders@cupe.on.ca